The Iraqi parliament recently approved the appointment of Laith al-Khazali to the position of deputy prime minister. Al-Khazali is a prominent figure within the Asaib Ahl al-Haq movement, a political and paramilitary group that maintains close ties to Iran.

The appointment has drawn international attention due to the status of both the individual and the organization in the United States. In 2020, the U.S. government officially designated Asaib Ahl al-Haq as a foreign terrorist organization. Furthermore, Laith al-Khazali and his brother, Qais al-Khazali—who leads the movement—have been labeled "specially designated global terrorists" by the U.S. Treasury.

These U.S. designations stem from allegations of the group's involvement in violent activities, including a 2007 attack that resulted in the deaths of five American soldiers. The U.S. Treasury also imposed sanctions on the brothers in 2019. The Iraqi government’s decision to elevate a figure with this specific background to a high-ranking cabinet position highlights the ongoing tension between Iraq’s internal political alliances and its diplomatic relationship with the United States.